Current Search: FAU (x) » Criticism and interpretation (x) » School of Communication and Multimedia Studies (x)
View All Items
- Title
- Hegemonic "realness"?: an intersectional analysis of RuPaul's Drag Race.
- Creator
- Jenkins, Sarah Tucker, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
RuPaul's Drag Race is one of the few realilty television shows focusing on QLGBT (queer, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) identified individuals that has made it into mainstream consciousness. Drag Race provides a unique perspective on the ways that gender identity, sexuality, size, class, race, and ethnicity intersect and interact in people's lives.The television show augments many of these intersedtions and the challenges related to these identities while still reflecting the daily...
Show moreRuPaul's Drag Race is one of the few realilty television shows focusing on QLGBT (queer, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) identified individuals that has made it into mainstream consciousness. Drag Race provides a unique perspective on the ways that gender identity, sexuality, size, class, race, and ethnicity intersect and interact in people's lives.The television show augments many of these intersedtions and the challenges related to these identities while still reflecting the daily struggles that people experience.The show works to promote messages of self-love and acceptance ; however, it also promotes many problematic and damaging stereotypes. This thesis conducts a feminist analysis in order to answer the question: How does RuPaul's Drag Race relate to hegemonic and oppressive stereotypes and roles associated with gender identity, sexual orientation, size, class, race and ethnicity? Does it challenge or reinforce such hegemonies? In order to answer these questions, this thesis examines visual imagery, narrative, and dialogue in the show, utilizes theories from cultural and women's studies, English and communications. It concludes that although Drag Race does engage in some subversive behavior, it ultimately reinforces harmful hegemonic stereotypes.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3360799
- Subject Headings
- Criticism and interpretation, Criticism and interpretation, Reality television programs, Social aspects, Mass media and culture, Mass media and women, Feminist theory, Television program genres, Stereotypes (Social psychology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- " Is it my fault my fangs come out when I'm turned on?": a feminist analysis of Pam and Jessica's vampire sexuality in the HBO television series True Blood.
- Creator
- Anderson, Ashley., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
This thesis analyzes Pamela Swynford De Beaufort and Jessica Hamby from the provocative HBO series, True Blood, in order to determine what hegemonic ideologies are reinforced through their sexual representation in the series. Through analysis based on concepts of the "vagina dentata" and "monstrous feminine," and in determining whether they fall victim to the Madonna/wore dichotomy, the question of Pam and Jessica's autonomous existence falls under scrutiny - particularly in regards to their...
Show moreThis thesis analyzes Pamela Swynford De Beaufort and Jessica Hamby from the provocative HBO series, True Blood, in order to determine what hegemonic ideologies are reinforced through their sexual representation in the series. Through analysis based on concepts of the "vagina dentata" and "monstrous feminine," and in determining whether they fall victim to the Madonna/wore dichotomy, the question of Pam and Jessica's autonomous existence falls under scrutiny - particularly in regards to their sexuality. Feminist scholarship is vital to this research in order to examine the often fetishized and marginalized sexuality of women who dare to exhibit transgressive behaviors. This thesis concentrates on Seasons One through Four of the series, and also utilizes meta-text from the official website related to each character in order to help answer the posed research questions.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3356897
- Subject Headings
- Criticism and interpretation, Women in popular culture, Vampires on television, Lesbianism on television, Feminist theory, Philosophy in literature
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Race and representation in Friday Night Lights.
- Creator
- Johnson, Keisha., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
This thesis will highlight the significance and representation of race in the film and television show Friday Night Lights. The core claim of my thesis will show that representation of race was different in the film as compared to the television show due to their various settings, one historical (1980s) and the other contemporary (2000s). While both the film and the television show were produced in the 2000s, their use of two different historical periods allows for contrasting representations...
Show moreThis thesis will highlight the significance and representation of race in the film and television show Friday Night Lights. The core claim of my thesis will show that representation of race was different in the film as compared to the television show due to their various settings, one historical (1980s) and the other contemporary (2000s). While both the film and the television show were produced in the 2000s, their use of two different historical periods allows for contrasting representations of race even they both draw from the book Friday Night Lights. The film's representation of race is reflective of its late 1980s setting, therefore, viewers of the film will see a more explicit handling of racial issues. During that time period it was socially acceptable to talk about issues of race straightforwardly and directly. On the other hand, the television show's contemporary setting, by contrast, allows for the representation of race to be handled more suggestively, indirectly, and implicitly, reflecting new ways of thinking about race more prevalent to the early 21st century.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3355560
- Subject Headings
- Criticism and interpretation, Criticism and interpretation, African American athletes, Social conditions, Racism in sports, Football, Social aspects, History
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Fearing the youth: economic turmoil, adult anxiety and the Japanese Battle Royale controversy.
- Creator
- Pagel, Caren., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
In December 2000, Japanese lawmakers took unprecedented steps to ban Fukasaku Kinji's Battle Royale from theaters prior to its scheduled release. The film was deemed "crude and tasteless" for its portrayal of teen violence in a state run game of kill or be-killed and attempts to ban the film were pursued through the film certification process all the way to the floor of Japanese parliament. This thesis investigates the controversy surrounding the release of Battle Royale and the socioeconomic...
Show moreIn December 2000, Japanese lawmakers took unprecedented steps to ban Fukasaku Kinji's Battle Royale from theaters prior to its scheduled release. The film was deemed "crude and tasteless" for its portrayal of teen violence in a state run game of kill or be-killed and attempts to ban the film were pursued through the film certification process all the way to the floor of Japanese parliament. This thesis investigates the controversy surrounding the release of Battle Royale and the socioeconomic and cultural factors - in particular, the Japanese recession and widening generation gap of the 1990s - that influenced both the film's message and the extraordinary political reaction in Japan. This thesis argues that the objections to the film were not based solely on the violent content as is often reported, but rather were the combination of adult economic and cultural anxiety regarding themselves and the youth, the anti-authority message of the film that encouraged the youth to reject adult systems, and a political campaign that exploited the adult fears by using Battle Royale as a scapegoat for youth problems.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3172429
- Subject Headings
- Criticism and interpretation, Influence, Motion pictures, Censorship, Violence in motion pictures, Sensationalism in motion pictures, Politics and government, Social life and customs
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- "How does one remember thirst?": phallic and matrixial memory in Chris Marker's La Jetâee and Sans Soleil.
- Creator
- Barr, Jeremy., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
This thesis problematizes the notion of memory as a non-gendered mechanism by examining the construction of memory and subjectivity in Chris Marker's La jetâee and Sans soleil. Using the theoretical frameworks of Jacques Lacan, Bracha Ettinger, and Andrâe Bazin, the paper argues that La jetâee presents a model of phallic memory corresponding to a Lacan's understanding of desire and subjectivity, while Sans soleil offers a model of matrixial memory based on Ettinger's theorization of the gaze....
Show moreThis thesis problematizes the notion of memory as a non-gendered mechanism by examining the construction of memory and subjectivity in Chris Marker's La jetâee and Sans soleil. Using the theoretical frameworks of Jacques Lacan, Bracha Ettinger, and Andrâe Bazin, the paper argues that La jetâee presents a model of phallic memory corresponding to a Lacan's understanding of desire and subjectivity, while Sans soleil offers a model of matrixial memory based on Ettinger's theorization of the gaze. Bazin's work is used to address aesthetic issues, as well as providing a method for exploring how the phallic and matrixial frameworks impact the formal construction of the films. Ultimately, La jetâees model of phallic memory is shown to sever past from present in a manner corresponding to Lacanian notions of desire, castration, and loss, whereas Sans soleil demonstrates the potential of matrixial memory to establish a liminal relationship between past and present.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3166838
- Subject Headings
- Criticism and interpretation, Criticism and interpretation, Psychoanalysis and art, Psychoanalysis and motion pictures
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Transcending political party constraints: an ideographic analysis of the rhetoric of Charlie Crist and Joe Lieberman as independent candidates.
- Creator
- Poplak, Cara., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
This thesis analyzes how the American political system presents specific rhetorical constraints for independent and third party candidates who are "othered" by the system. To better understand how independent candidates overcome these constraints, the rhetoric of two such recent candidates, Charlie Crist and Joe Lieberman, is analyzed using ideographic criticism. These two candidates were originally affiliated with one of the two major political parties, but changed their party affiliation to...
Show moreThis thesis analyzes how the American political system presents specific rhetorical constraints for independent and third party candidates who are "othered" by the system. To better understand how independent candidates overcome these constraints, the rhetoric of two such recent candidates, Charlie Crist and Joe Lieberman, is analyzed using ideographic criticism. These two candidates were originally affiliated with one of the two major political parties, but changed their party affiliation to run as Independent candidates. To facilitate their transition to independent candidates, both politicians used popular American political ideographs such as "the people," "freedom," and "unity" to maintain their allegiance to America and their constituencies, while separating their political ideology from their prior party affiliation. The ideographic analysis reveals that independent candidates can create nuanced changes in the meanings of popular ideographs to transcend partisan interpretations and create a positive perception of political "otherness."
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3333312
- Subject Headings
- Criticism and interpretation, Criticism and interpretation, Communication in politics, Political oratory, Political candidates, Third parties (United States politics), Politics and government
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- An exploratory study of how lesbian women and gay men are portrayed in Jamaica's primary newspaper - The Gleaner, dancehall music, and the works of authors Kwame Dawes, Kei Miller, and Staceyann Chin.
- Creator
- Cann, Victoria E., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
This thesis examines the treatment of gay men and lesbian women through the multilayered lenses of the local Jamaican newspaper - The Gleaner, Dancehall music, and select works of Kei Miller, Kwame Dawes, and Staceyann Chin. The study is an exploratory one and as such its methodology is not confined to a prescribed model, but instead draws on a diverse range of theorists, some from postcolonialism, feminism, cultural studies, philosophy, Caribbean studies and more. This project's intent is to...
Show moreThis thesis examines the treatment of gay men and lesbian women through the multilayered lenses of the local Jamaican newspaper - The Gleaner, Dancehall music, and select works of Kei Miller, Kwame Dawes, and Staceyann Chin. The study is an exploratory one and as such its methodology is not confined to a prescribed model, but instead draws on a diverse range of theorists, some from postcolonialism, feminism, cultural studies, philosophy, Caribbean studies and more. This project's intent is to add to the newly emerging canon on queer Caribbean identities by further exploring societal representations of gay sexuality. The first chapter looks at the portrayal of Jamaican gay men and lesbian women through the public discourse of the Jamaica Gleaner. The second discusses the treatment of male and female homosexuality in the popular discourse of Dancehall music. The third chapter analyses the depiction of Caribbean gay and lesbian sexuality through the recent works of authors Kei Miller, Kwame Dawes and Staceyann Chin.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3169916
- Subject Headings
- Criticism and interpretation, Criticism and interpretation, Criticism and interpretation, Homosexuality
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Persepolis and Waltz with Bashir, an alternative perspective on the Middle East, a mirror for the West.
- Creator
- Dzmuranova, Kristyna., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
This project presents a three-level analysis of Persepolis and Waltz with Bashir to elucidate the way these films deconstruct the image of the Middle East that the dominant Western media perpetuate. The thesis demonstrates that the combination of highly expressive and easily understandable animated form with an autobiographical storyline that endows the films with attractive authenticity, personification and intimacy, creates a palatable setting for the intellectual texts. Further, this...
Show moreThis project presents a three-level analysis of Persepolis and Waltz with Bashir to elucidate the way these films deconstruct the image of the Middle East that the dominant Western media perpetuate. The thesis demonstrates that the combination of highly expressive and easily understandable animated form with an autobiographical storyline that endows the films with attractive authenticity, personification and intimacy, creates a palatable setting for the intellectual texts. Further, this project discloses the ways representation gives rise to stereotypes and illustrates how the films articulate an alternative to the dichotomous perception of West versus Middle East. The movies impersonate a unique, subjective insight into the past, emphasizing that history is an ongoing, non-linear process that depends on where and who is narrating it, and to whom. Understanding that public memory is shaped by media content, the thesis asserts the necessity for more cultural texts that deconstruct the norm and eliminate bias.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3175014
- Subject Headings
- Documentary films, Criticism and interpretation, Arab-Israeli conflict, Motion pictures and the conflict, Moving pictures in propaganda, Motion pictures and history, Historical films, Criticism and interpretation, History and criticism
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Dissipating hostility through feminine rhetorical style: Barbara Bush and the petitioners of Wellesley College.
- Creator
- Doran, Bethany Lynne., Gorbacheva, Raisa Maksimovna, Wellesley College, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
This study uses Karlyn Campbell's concept of feminine rhetorical style as a theoretical framework for analyzing the rhetoric of Barbara Bush's 1990 Wellesley College commencement address. Through a systematic evaluation of Barbara Bush's speech, this study reveals that her rhetoric exemplifies feminine rhetorical style. The analysis also concludes that Barbara Bush's personal tone, specifically her use of narrative and humor, is the most useful and effective characteristic of her feminine...
Show moreThis study uses Karlyn Campbell's concept of feminine rhetorical style as a theoretical framework for analyzing the rhetoric of Barbara Bush's 1990 Wellesley College commencement address. Through a systematic evaluation of Barbara Bush's speech, this study reveals that her rhetoric exemplifies feminine rhetorical style. The analysis also concludes that Barbara Bush's personal tone, specifically her use of narrative and humor, is the most useful and effective characteristic of her feminine rhetorical style. Using feminine rhetorical style, Barbara Bush successfully dissipates some of the tension she faced prior to the graduation ceremony at Wellesley College. Therefore, this study reveals that feminine rhetorical style is an attractive alternative for speakers seeking to build identification in hostile situations when identification is, or appears to be, lacking.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/2100573
- Subject Headings
- Influence, Criticism and interpretation, Feminist theory, Narration (Rhetoric), Psychological aspects, Persuasion (Rhetoric)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The Meryl Streep mystique: a study of gender, aging, Hollywood and a female star.
- Creator
- Allerton, Tracy., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
This thesis employs a star study of Meryl Streep, incorporating pertinent feminist, reception and culture-studies theories, to investigate biases within the Hollywood film industry. The actress has enjoyed a resurgence as a leading lady at age 61. Streep's star persona, acting prowess and career arc are examined across three theoretical platforms - production of culture, textual analysis, and audience analysis - or clues as to why she has been singled out among her peers. This thesis posits...
Show moreThis thesis employs a star study of Meryl Streep, incorporating pertinent feminist, reception and culture-studies theories, to investigate biases within the Hollywood film industry. The actress has enjoyed a resurgence as a leading lady at age 61. Streep's star persona, acting prowess and career arc are examined across three theoretical platforms - production of culture, textual analysis, and audience analysis - or clues as to why she has been singled out among her peers. This thesis posits that Streep's unique star image and surge in popularity have helped her break out of hegemonic articulations of gender and aging that privilege youthful beauty, putting female stars at a disadvantage within the capitalistic film industry. Also considered is the cultural significance of Streep's late-life success: Does she represent new openings for older actresses (and concomitantly, an increase in film representations of aging women), or is she merely an anomaly within the entrenched patriarchal system?
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/2867329
- Subject Headings
- Criticism and interpretation, Sex role in motion pictures, Women in motion pictures, Middle age in motion pictures, Women in popular culture
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Preaching to the choir: the culture war and the box office success of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ.
- Creator
- Kuhn, Rebecca., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
In 2004, Mel Gibson released The Passion of the Christ, a film that focuses specifically on the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. Over a year before its release and well ahead of any studio publicity, the film and its director were at the center of a discussion that sparked criticism from biblical scholars, Jesus historians, and members of the media. In spite, or perhaps because, of this controversy, The Passion was well-received by its audiences if not by its critics....
Show moreIn 2004, Mel Gibson released The Passion of the Christ, a film that focuses specifically on the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. Over a year before its release and well ahead of any studio publicity, the film and its director were at the center of a discussion that sparked criticism from biblical scholars, Jesus historians, and members of the media. In spite, or perhaps because, of this controversy, The Passion was well-received by its audiences if not by its critics. This dissertation explores the cultural, political, and economic factors that led to the box office success of Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ and also examines why viewers identified with Jesus, the protagonist of the film. First, this project places the success of The Passion of the Christ in socio-historical and political-economic context of 2004, emphasizing the popularity of neoliberal economic policies, conservative political thought, and Evangelical Christianity. Second, this project explores the specific political and economic arrangements that facilitated the making of the film at Cinecitta studios in Rome. The ease with which Gibson was able to make The Passion outside of the United States is a direct result of neoliberal economic policies that emphasize free trade and, in the process, undermine trade unions and film industry laborers. Third, in addition to a macro- and micro-level political economic analysis of The Passion of the Christ, this project also examines the film as it fits into the horror genre. Horror not only seeks to elicit an immediate visceral reaction from audience members but also manifests the political and economic insecurities of society. Finally, this project connects the film text to these anxieties, including the war on terror, the war in Iraq, and an extended crisis of masculinity.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/359922
- Subject Headings
- Criticism and interpretation, Passion, History of doctrines, Christianity and culture, Motion pictures, Political and social aspects, Horror films, Criticism and interpretation
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Let's get into character: gender depictions in the films of Quentin Tarantino.
- Creator
- Fedderman, Marc R., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
This study will focus on Quentin Tarantino's three most recent films: Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003), Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004), and Death Proof (2007). These works are significant, in that they present a marked departure from the director's earlier films. Specifically, they offer portrayals of resourceful and powerful female protagonists, in stark contrast to the frequently neglected and marginalized women of Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Pulp Fiction (1994). Buttressed by a mixture of...
Show moreThis study will focus on Quentin Tarantino's three most recent films: Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003), Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004), and Death Proof (2007). These works are significant, in that they present a marked departure from the director's earlier films. Specifically, they offer portrayals of resourceful and powerful female protagonists, in stark contrast to the frequently neglected and marginalized women of Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Pulp Fiction (1994). Buttressed by a mixture of psychoanalytic feminist and postmodern theories, I will perform a careful textual analysis of these latest films. In particular, I intend to uncover the ways in which Tarantino's films support and/or subvert traditionally oppressive conceptions of gender.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/216414
- Subject Headings
- Criticism and interpretation, Criticism and interpretation, Sex role in motion pictures, Motion pictures, History
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Women, film, and oceans a/part: the critical humor of Tracey Moffatt, Monica Pellizzari, and Clara Law.
- Creator
- Senzani, Alessandra., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
The politicized use of humor in accented cinema is a tool for negotiating particular formations of identity, such as sexuality, gender, ethnicity, and class. The body of work produced by contemporary women filmmakers working in Australia, specifically Tracey Moffatt, Monica Pellizzari, and Clara Law, illustrates how these directors have employed critical humor as a response to their multiple marginalization as women, Australian, and accented filmmakers. In their works, humor functions as a...
Show moreThe politicized use of humor in accented cinema is a tool for negotiating particular formations of identity, such as sexuality, gender, ethnicity, and class. The body of work produced by contemporary women filmmakers working in Australia, specifically Tracey Moffatt, Monica Pellizzari, and Clara Law, illustrates how these directors have employed critical humor as a response to their multiple marginalization as women, Australian, and accented filmmakers. In their works, humor functions as a critical tool to deconstruct the contradictions in dominant discourses as they relate to (neo)colonial, racist, globalized, patriarchal, and displaced pasts and presents. Produced within Australian national cinema, but emerging from experiences of geographical displacements that defy territorial borders, their films illuminate how critical humor can inflect such accepted categories as the national constitution of a cinema, film genre, and questions of exile and diaspora. Critical humor thus consti tutes a cinematic signifying practice able, following Luigi Pirandello's description of umorismo, to decompose the filmic text, and as a tool for an ideological critique of cinema and its role in (re)producing discourses of the nation predicated on the dominant categories of whiteness and masculinity. The study offers a theoretical framework for decoding humor in a film text, focusing on the manipulation of cinematic language, and it provides a model for a criticism that wishes to heighten the counter-hegemonic potential of cinematic texts, by picking up on the humorous, contradictory openings of the text and widening them through a parallel dissociating process., Finally, critical humor in the accented cinema of women filmmakers like Moffatt, Pellizzari, and Law is shown to constitute a form of translation and negotiation performed between the national, monologic constraints of film production and cinematic language, the heteroglossia of the global imaginaries that have traveled since the beginning with film technology, and the local and diasporic accents informing a filmmaker's unique style and perspective.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/186293
- Subject Headings
- Women motion picture producers and directors, Feminism and motion pictures, Criticism and interpretation, Local color in motion pictures, Intercultural communication in motion pictures
- Format
- Document (PDF)